University of Tennessee Athletic Director Phillip Fulmer, left, introduces Jeremy Pruitt during his introduction ceremony as Tennessee’s next head football coach at the Neyland Stadium Peyton Manning Locker Room in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, December 7, 2017.

Jeremy Pruitt is an Alabama native who played two seasons with the Crimson Tide, but he grew up close enough to Tennessee to feel the reach of Volunteer football.

“There was a time and place where this university was feared among SEC teams,” Pruitt said. “My goal as the head football coach of the University of Tennessee is to get us back to that point.”

Pruitt is in the midst of his second season as Alabama’s defensive coordinator, and he’ll continue to coach the Crimson Tide throughout the College Football Playoff.

“I think it’s a plus for the University of Tennessee to have a coach in a semifinal game and a national championship game, possibly, the exposure that will come from that,” Vols athletic director Phillip Fulmer said.

In the meantime, Pruitt will recruit for Tennessee. The recruiting contact period will continue through Dec. 16, ahead of the new signing period for high school players, which is Dec. 20-22.

Pruitt emerged from a crop of finalists that included Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele and Georgia defensive coordinator Mel Tucker.

“His energy and his enthusiasm and his background and his intensity appealed to me greatly,” Fulmer said of Pruitt.

Pruitt’s résumé is appealing, too.

Nick Saban tapped Pruitt to be his defensive coordinator after Georgia hired Kirby Smart off Saban’s staff in December 2015.

“There was no doubt who I was going to hire,” Saban said of Pruitt then, according to Al.com. “Didn’t interview anybody. Didn’t talk to anybody. Just hired the guy.”

During Fulmer’s coaching days, he was known for loathing Alabama, one of the Vols’ top rivals.

“I’ve got respect for Alabama and what they’ve accomplished, particularly recently,” Fulmer said when asked about hiring an Alabama native, alumnus and coach. “

Before Pruitt’s most recent return to his alma mater, he was Georgia’s defensive coordinator for two years after one season as Florida State’s defensive coordinator.

With Pruitt leading FSU’s defense in 2013, the Seminoles led the nation in scoring defense en route to a national championship. Pruitt was named a finalist for the Broyles Award, given to the nation’s top assistant, that year and also in 2016.

He’s never presided over a defense that ranked lower than 16th nationally in scoring defense. Alabama is ranked No. 1 in scoring defense this year after also leading the nation last season.

Pruitt is in the midst of his third stint working as an assistant at Alabama. He has four national title rings, including three at Alabama.

The son of a high school football coach, Pruitt grew up wanting to be a coach like his father, Dale. Pruitt spent several years as an assistant at the high school ranks, including five seasons working for his father. His résumé includes a three-year stint as an elementary school physical education teacher, where his tasks included teaching his students how to tie their shoes.

“I just think he’s a genuine guy. I really do,” said former NFL quarterback Kelly Holcomb, who was Pruitt’s teammate for two seasons at Middle Tennessee State before Pruitt transferred to Alabama. “I don’t think there’s any false bravado to him.”

Pruitt will be tasked with uniting and energizing a fan base left frustrated by the first eight-loss season in program history and a coaching search that morphed into a national punchline.

Tennessee was close to hiring Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano on Nov. 26 before public backlash caused the deal to unravel. In the days that followed, several coaches turned away overtures from the Vols, and Currie’s ouster capped a wild week.

“I’m a firm believer you don’t look in the rearview mirror,” Pruitt said, speaking only to the Vols’ 2017 season and not to the coaching search.

He’s eager to get Vols back to the Tennessee he remembers.

“Your expectations aren’t near what mine are,” Pruitt said. “Because I’ll tell you right now, my expectation is to win every game we play.”

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Head coach Jeremy Pruitt speaks at his introduction ceremony at the Neyland Stadium Peyton Manning Locker Room in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, December 7, 2017.

Head coach Jeremy Pruitt speaks at his introduction ceremony at the Neyland Stadium Peyton Manning Locker Room in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, December 7, 2017.

Jeremy Pruitt speaks during his introduction ceremony as Tennessee’s next head football coach at the Neyland Stadium Peyton Manning Locker Room in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, December 7, 2017.

Casey Pruitt, wife of Jeremy Pruitt, listens to her husband speak during his introduction ceremony as Tennessee’s next head football coach at the Neyland Stadium Peyton Manning Locker Room in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, December 7, 2017.

University of Tennessee Chancellor Beverly Davenport speaks during the introduction ceremony of Jeremy Pruitt as Tennessee’s next head football coach at the Neyland Stadium Peyton Manning Locker Room in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, December 7, 2017.